Glass-rolling mechanism



J. SODERBERG.

GLASS ROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1919.

1,398,046. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

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Fll3-1- I. SODERBERGI GLASS ROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1919.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB SODERBERG, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GLASS-ROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed July 21,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB Soonnnnno, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in Glass-Rolling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to apparatus or machines for rolling glass, such as employed in the manufacture of plate glass and preparatory to supplying the sheets thus formed to the annealing leer. The invention has for its primary objects the provision of an improved rolling apparatus, wherein provision is made for. maintaining the roll employed at a uniform temperature during the periods between successive rolling operations and the provision of improved and simplified means for operating the roll employed. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the mechanism.

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line III-III of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a partial end elevation of the mechanism.

Aside from the improved mechanism for moving the roll back and forth longitudinally of the table, one of the most important features of the invention consists in the arrangement for maintaining the roll at a uniform temperature during the period of rest between rolling operations. In rolling mechanism as now used, the roll remains stationary at one end of the table between casting operations, and, as a result, becomes more highly heated on the side adjacent the table. As a result the unequal expansion bulges the roll on the side adjacent the table, and the sheet of glass formed by moving the roll over the table is of varying thickness, resulting from the non-uniformity of the roll. The present invention is designed to avoid this difficulty by providing for the rotating of the roll for the greater portion of the period of time be tween casting operations so that it is maintained of uniform temperature. The invention also contemplates the provision of means for maintaining the roll at any desired temperature while in its position of non-use between the casting operations, such means Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921. 1919. Serial No. 312,131.

comprising either heating or cooling means, depending upon the requirements.

In its preferred embodiment the invention includes means for automatically elevating the roll and continuing its rotation when such roll reaches its position at the end of the table, the same driving mechanism being employed for moving the roll back and forth along the table and for rotating it when it reaches the end of the table. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the mechanism for lifting the roll comprises a tilting cradle provided with supporting rollers which the roll engages when it reaches its end position, such engaging causing the tilting of the cradle to carry the roll away from the table, at which time the rollers of the cradle permit the continued rotation of the roll.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is the casting table, which is of any approved type, supported upon the base members 2 and 3, and 4 is the roll, which may also be of any approved type, and is mounted to move longitudinally of the table. The table is provided adjacent its side edges with the rails 5-5 (Fig. l), which constitute a track upon which the roll is supported, such rails also constituting a limiting means for the edges of the sheet of glass which is formed on the table. At the left hand end of the table is an apron 6 bridging the space between the table and the receiving member 7 of the leer, such apron being supported upon the brackets 8 and 9. This apron is provided at its edges with rails 10-10, for receiving the roll, and inclined upwardly, so that when the roll reaches its position at the left hand end of the table, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it is raised above the table a distance sufiicient to permit the stowing tool to move the sheet of glass which has been formed beneath the roll onto the leer receiving member 7.

The roll is journaled at each end in a triangular shaped frame 11, such frame being carried on the end of the roll as indicated in Fig. 4 and being provided with a sprocket wheel 12, keyed to the end of the roll, such sprocket wheel being operated from an endless chain 13, as hereinafter described. The frame is also provided with a pair of rollers 14 and 15 journaled freely upon axles 1616. These. axles 16-16 also carry sprocket idlers 17-17, about which the' for convenient tightening of the chain. The sprocket 21 is carried by a countershaft 22, and such countershaft is driven by the chain 1 23 passing around the sprockets 24 and 25.

An electric motor-26 is preferably employed.

with a reducing transmission 27 intermediate such motor and the shaft on which the sprocket '25 is mounted. It will be understood that the operating means for the roll as above described are the same at each end of the roll. ,1

The rails 18, on whichthe rollers Hand 15 move, are bent up at their left hand -extremltles as indicated at 19 in Fig. 2, to follow the upward movement of the roll on its inclined track, such arrangement" serving to keep the rollers 14 and 15 in contact with their track, so that lost motion of the frames 11 is avoided. The rails 10 and 18 are also provided with sharply upturned" portions 28 and 29 at their extreme left hand ends, such portions practically constituting stops to prevent further movement of the roll to the left.

It Will be seen from the foregoing that the operation of the sprocket chain13 rotates the roll 4 and moves it longitudinally of the table in a direction dependent upon the direction of the movement of the chain, the motor being stopped after the roll -has moved to the left to theextreme position in-' dicated in dotted lines at the left hand end of the table in Fig. 2. This movement carries the roll above the-surface of the apron, permitting the passage of a stoyving toolto move the glass from the table to the lee'r. The right hand end of the table is also provided with mechanism for lifting the roll slightly away from the table and away from the supporting rails '5, so that the roll may be rotated in the period of time between successive casting operations. This mechanism includes a cradle 30 at each side of the table. pivoted upon the pin 31, and each provided 34 is provided on the supporting bracket or frame 35, so that when the cradle 30 reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 3, its further movement to the right is stopped. Another stop 34 (Fig. 3) limits the movement of with a pair of rollers 32 and 33. A stop the cradle inthe reverse direction. As indicated at 36 in Fig. 3, the end of the rail 5 is inclined upwardly, and terminates at such point 36, so .that when the roll carried by the cradle reaches the extreme position to the right, it 'juste-clears the ends gof the rails '5 and is free to rotate upon its supporting rollers 32 and 33. v i,

The inertia of the roll and thepull of the chain 13 will ordinarily carry the ro to the.

position illustrated in Fig.3, 'althoug such movement. involves a-slightlifting of the roll. Similarly, when the movement of the chain is reversed; the pull-thereof will carry the roll to the left on to the rails 5.. However, in order to insure positively these two movements, provision is made for preventing the rotation-of the rollers 32 and 33 at certain periods in order \to insure that the roll will pull itself. to its proper positions.

' The roller 33 is providedv with a ratchet 37, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 38, carried by thecradle 30. When the cradleis in its left hand osition', the pawl 38 prevents the rotation of the roller 33 in a counter clockwise direction. When the roll 4, moving to the right and turning in a clockwise direction, engages this roller, the roller is held from rotating and the roll turns to the right on the roller thus positively moving to the right until such movement is stopped by the engagement of the cradle with its stop 34. At this time the end of the stop screw 38 engages the, pawl, thus releasing its engagement with the ratchet 37 so that the roller is free torota'te as long as the cradle occupies the position shown. Similarly, the roller 32 is provided with a ratchet and pawl 39 and 40, so that when the movement of the roll is reversed, the rotation of the roller in a. clockwise--direction is prevented and the roll positively moves itself to the left.

table in the usual manner, the roll at that time occupyinga position to'the left of that \indicated in Fig. 3, at which time the roll rests upon the rails 5 and acts as a stop for the mass of molten glass. 'After the teeming operation the motor is started so that the roll is carried from the right hand end of thetable to the position indicated in dotted lines at the left hand end of the table. rolling out the sheet ofglass and the roll being lifted above the glass when theleft hand end of the table is reached. The motor is sto ped when the roll reaches this position, and t e glass is stowed by shoving it to the left beneath the roll. The motor is then reversed and the roll carried back to its position at the right hand end of the table. When it reaches this position it strikes the rollers 33 on the cradles, and these cradles swing to the right, disengaging the roll from its tracks 5. The motor is still allowed.

In operation glass is teemed across the suitable exterior heating means.

to operate so that the turning of the roll upon its supporting rollers 32 and 33 is con"- tinned. The temperature of the roll is thus maintained uniform until the next teeming operation, since the face of the roll toward the table is being constantly shifted, and the uniform ap lication of a heating or cooling medium is facilitated. In case it is desired to heat the roll, a gas pipe 41 may be em-v ployed or the roll may be heated by other Similarly, if it is desired to. cool the roll, this may 1301 done by a pipe correspondingto the pipe 41, through whlch a cooling fluid,such as air, may be forced and discharged upon the roll, or by any other desired exterior cooling means, the invention not being limited to any particular means, and a uniform effect upon the roll being secured because of its constant movement past the heating or coolin agent.

It will be seen that the provision of the frames 11 at the ends of the rolls, with the chains 13, serve to give the roll a positive movement back and fo h along the table, and that the use of the rollers 14 and 15 on such frames serves to keep the frames 11 1n their proper positions atall t mes, the bent up portion at 19 guarding against tlltmg movement of the frames, and a s milar means, although'of much smaller s1ze,1s provided at the right hand end of the t able for engaging theroller 15 when the roll is raised in the cradle, such means COIIIPIlSlIlg a hump member 42 secured to the top of each rail 18. \Vhat I claim is: V 1. In combination in glass rolling mechanism, a table, supporting tracks extendin ends resting upon said tracks, and operat ng means for each end of the roll comprising a frame movable longitudinally of the table, in which the end of the roll is journaled, an operating wheel carried by theend of the roll and mounted to turn therewith, a guide rail extending along the side of the table,

means on the frame engaging said rail, a-

pair of idler wheels mounted on opposite sides of the roll, an endless flexible drivin member extending longitudinally of the table and around the operating wheel and the two idlers, and means-for operating said flexible member.

2. In combination-in glass rolling mechanism, a table, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the table, a roll having its ends resting upon said tracks, and operating means for each end of the roll comprisin a frame movable longitudinally of the ta 1e, in which the end of the roll is j ournaled, an operating wheel carried by the end of the roll and mounted to turn therewith, a guide rail extending along the side of the tab1e,'a pair of wheels on the frame engaging said rail, a pair of idler wheels 'longitudinall of the operating w eel and the two idlers, and

nism, a table,

g ment, the said mounted on opposite sides of the roll, an endless flexible driving member extending table and aroundthe means for operating said flexible member.

3. In combination in glass rolling mechanism, a table, a roll, su porting tracks extending along the sides oFthe table on which the roll rests, means whereby the roll is moved longitudinally of the table, means for moving the roll out of contact with the' tracks at one end of the table, means for rotating the roll in said position at the end of the table, and temperature modifying means adjacent the exterior of the roll when in said end position.

' 4. In combination in nism, a table, a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides .of the table on which the roll rests, and is adapted to move to roll the body of glass lying therebetween, power means for rotating the roll to cause it to move back and forth along the tracks depending on the direction of rotation, and means whereby the roll is removed from thetracks and rotated by said power means intermediate the rolling operations.

5. In combination in a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the tableon which the roll rests, power means for rotat- "mg the roll to cause it to move back and g continue the rotation of the roll after it is along the sides of the table,a roll having itsv 1 .tending along the sides of the table on which the roll' rests, power means whereby the roll is rotated and moved longitudinally of the table, and means actuated by the movement of the roll for removing the roll from the tracks and supporting it for rotation when it reaches one extreme of movepower means being arranged to continue the rotation of the roll in said extreme position.

7. In combination in nism, a table, a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the table; on which the roll rests, means whereby the roll is moved longitudinally of the table, and a tilting cradle actuated by the movement of the roll for lifting the roll from the tracks when it reaches one extreme of movement without stopping the rotation of the roll.

8. In combination in glass rolling mechanism, a table, a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the table on which the roll rests, and is adapted to move to roll the body of glass lying therebetween,

glass rolling mechaglass rolling mecha.

glass rolling-mechameans whereby the roll is moved from the tracks and rotatedintermediate the rolling operations, and means for modifying the temperature of the exterior of the roll while so rotating intermediate said rolling operations.

9. In combination in glass rolling mechanism, a table, a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the table on which the roll rests, and is adapted to move to roll the body of glass lying therebetween, means whereby the roll is moved from the tracks and rotated intermediate the rolling operations, and means for applying heat to the exterior of the roll While so rotating intermediate'said rolling operations.

10. In combination in glass rolling mechanism, a table, a roll, supporting tracks extending along the sides of the table on which the roll rests, means for rotating the roll to cause it to move back and forth along the table, and means for automatically lifting the roll from the tracks when it nism, a table,

reaches one extreme of movement, comprising a tilting cradle provided with rollers for engaging the roll and supporting it for rotation.

11. In combination in glass rolling mechaa roll, supporting tracks extending a lon the sides of the table on which the r01 rests, means for rotating the roll to cause it to move back and forth along the table, and means for automatically lifting the roll from the tracks when it reaches one extreme of movement, comprising a tilting cradle provided with rollers for engaging the roll and supporting it for rotation, the said rollers being provided with automatic stop means to restrict the rotation of the rollers and facilitate the movement of the cradle while it is moving from one position to another. a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of July,

JACOB SODERBERG. 

